July 2015
I am a retired high-school English teacher from Potts Camp, Mississippi. Life in general and my grandchildren in particular inspire me to write. I especially enjoy writing—and reading—rhymed, metered poetry and mourn its near-demise. I get a real charge out of parodying the famous poems I taught my students—while keeping a perfectly straight face and assuring them that studying such noble literature would greatly enhance their lives. I stay busy with a variety of activities at home and church.
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Author's Note: Perhaps you're familiar with the concept of yard-rolling, which is wildly popular—especially on Halloween night—in the Southeast. It's simple: people "decorate" OTHER people's trees, yards, porches, etc., with bathroom tissue, sometimes many rolls of it. I am convinced that some young (and some maybe not so young!) people in Potts Camp, Mississippi, have been to yard-rolling school, since they perform the task so expertly. Clean-up is a real challenge.
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A parody of Lord Byron's "So We'll Go No More A-Roving"
So We'll Go No More A-Rolling
So we'll go no more a-rolling
folks' yards on Halloween,
for the cops would come patrolling
and bust up our fun-filled scene.
For the trees should not wear Charmin,
and the neighbors shouldn't see
grown men in masks out harmin'
their precious property
So the night's not made for strolling
through town to vandalize.
We'll go no more a-rolling
folks' yards. It's just not wise.
Editor's Note: Janice wrote this poem at my suggestion. Thank you, Janice!
So We'll Go No More A-Rolling
So we'll go no more a-rolling
folks' yards on Halloween,
for the cops would come patrolling
and bust up our fun-filled scene.
For the trees should not wear Charmin,
and the neighbors shouldn't see
grown men in masks out harmin'
their precious property
So the night's not made for strolling
through town to vandalize.
We'll go no more a-rolling
folks' yards. It's just not wise.
Editor's Note: Janice wrote this poem at my suggestion. Thank you, Janice!
©2015 Janice Canerdy